and as a consequence, al-qaeda's core leadership has been decimated. >> al-qaeda has been decimated. osama bin laden is dead. >> brian: president obama has said repeatedly and we taped it, al-qaeda's influence has diminished over four years. but that may not be the case of the according to the f.b.i., the four men accused of plot to go join al-qaeda and travel to afghanistan to kill american soldiers. one of which served in the air force. so what does this tell us about the so-called war on terror which we're not allowed to call anymore? peter johnson, jr. what do you conclude from the rhetoric to reality? >> we got trouble. we got trouble in riverside county, california. four people have been charged. one american, three others who were residents, a fellow from the philippines and mexico as well. and they were charged with getting ready to be part of jihad in afghanistan. one of the men, 34 years old, the oldest, has been detained in afghanistan. the others charged here in california. it was based on a sting operation involving a confidential informant. f.b.i. joint terrorist task f